Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright and the state of Tennessee issued proclamations today recognizing May 14-18 as Promotional Products Work! Week. The city of Shelbyville, also known as The Pencil City, declared itself The Promotional Products City to acknowledge that promotional products companies and professionals are a vital component of an entrepreneurial and productive economy.

"This was a momentous event for PPAMS [Promotional Products Association of the Mid-South] and PPAI and it's exciting the associations came together to kick off Promotional Products Work! Week and celebrate Shelbyville's rich history and the promotional products industry's strong economic impact at the local and global levels," says Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI president and CEO. "I want to thank PPAMS, the city of Shelbyville, the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, community leaders and the great state of Tennessee—we were honored to be a part of this historic day."

The day began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and factory tour at supplier Shepenco, a kickoff luncheon and the proclamation presentation by Mayor Cartwright. Other speakers included Congressman Scott DeJarlais; state Sen. Shane Reeves; Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce CEO Allen Pitner; and PPAMS President Kimberly Stunkel, as well as local dignitaries and promotional products industry members.

Promotional Products Work! Week is an annual, industrywide event dedicated to celebrating the power of promotional products and the value they create. It serves as a cornerstone for recognizing the importance of working with promotional professionals, while creating awareness for promotional products as a powerful and effective advertising and marketing medium.

In addition to contributing $23.3 billion to the U.S. economy, the promotional products industry is comprised of more than 40,500 companies employing more than 500,000 professionals. Learn more about participating in Promotional Products Work! Week here.